I’d
heard a lot about this book, but the title didn’t draw me in, so I wasn’t
prepared for how much I would love it. It’s compelling historical fiction with a
great story about persevering despite economic, physical and emotional hardships.
Description
from Amazon:
Nine-year-old
Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by
Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is
shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks
out to join him.
So
begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to
take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read,
and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to
love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them
together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel
hands of their mother?
The War That
Saved My Life
was written by Kimberly Brubaker and published by Dial Books for Young Readers
(Penguin Group) in 2015.
My
Take:
Right
from the beginning of this story, I wanted to stick up for Ada and I wanted so
much for things to get better for her. I really liked her determination, and
the way she loved and looked out for her brother. It was interesting to learn more about
some things I didn’t know much about before, such as club foot, the separation
of families during the war, and Dunkirk. Reading the details through Ada’s eyes
made me think much more deeply about the war and related events. I didn’t want
to put this book down until I finished the whole story (and then I wished there
was more!)
From
a writer’s perspective, I thought the opening chapter was very effective at setting
the stage for the novel and providing information the reader needs to know. It
was interesting that Ada had a realization about herself so early in the novel.
Opening
Line:
“Ada!
Get back from that window!” Mam’s voice, shouting.
Quotes:
“I
had never needed taking care of, but I decided not to say so.”
“Onions
were so scarce they might as well have been solid gold.”
“A
pall of dust and smoke choked the sunlight, but the street sparkled as though
covered with stars. Glass. All shattered glass.”
Other
Info:
The War That
Saved My Life
won a Newbery Honor Medal in 2016. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley has written
several other historical novels.
I remember this book making waves last year. I want to read it, I just have to make my way to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feature!
Okay...this is a must read. I love books where the character grabs your heart from the get go and has you routing for them, just wanting things to get better. This sounds like a book that does just that!
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes! I've heard so many rave reviews of this book, even before it won a Newbery honor. I really need to read it.
ReplyDelete